Starting means



C. HAUNZ.

STARTING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY10.1917.

1,385,210. PmntedJvu1y19J921.

9m fil K Il'.|l r

1I e Hill lili/IX INVENTQR.

ATTONEY.

lings 5 clamped between` UNITED sTaTEsN PATENT oFFicE.

CHARLES HAUNZ, OF LANCASTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GOULD STORAGE iBATTERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STARTING MEANS.

specincaiion of Letters raient.

Patented July 19, 1921.

Application Med Mayl 10, 1917. Serial No. 167,678.

some instrumentality incapable of starting? itself shall be put inmotion, and is particularly applicable to that class of means employedfor winding clocks, operating doors, windows, etc., and startinginternal combustion engines, as for example such as now employed fordriving automobiles, etc.

My invention pertains more specifically to such means operated by theexpansion of heated gases, and comprehends` means .for generatin anexplosive mixture, burning and utilizing the ower therefrom to performthe desired unction. y

The drawing shows, partly in section and partly in a diagrammaticmanner, one form of starting means embodying the elements of myinvention.

In the drawin 1 represents a T-shaped body casting wit an internalcavity 2 with its run horizontal and its branch facing downwardly. Oneend of the run is closed as by a suitable plug 3 carrying a `metallicmember 4 insulated therefrom as by bushthe member 4 and nut 6 in suchmanner as to form a tight joint with respect to plug 3. other opening ofthe therein to form a gas-tight joint, as for example by the screwthreadas shown, a barrel or cylinder 7 provided with al piston 8 attached toone extremity of a piston rod 9 provided with a rack 10 engaging thepinion 11 which is o eratively connected with the shaft 12 of t e motor,or other device to be started, as by means of any usual type ofover-running clutch, the external housing of which isindicated at 13.Details of the over-riinning clutch are purposelyomitted for the sake ofclearness, as many such clutches are now well known articles ofcommerce, it being understood that any type of clutch may be used at 13which will run has firmly held drive the shaft 12 when the pinion 11 isrotated in a counter-clockwise direction and allow the pinion to rotatefreely in a clockw wise direction; or, in other words, allow the shaft12 to rotate freely with respect to pinion 11` when the said shaft isrotating in a counter-clockwise direction. The entire starting mechanismmay be supported in proper relation to the pinion 13, asV by means ofthe lugs or bosses 14, and the` thrust of the said gear upon the rackmay be provided for by any suitable means, as for example the sheave orroller 15, supported in any desired way by the shaft 16. The piston 8fits snugly within the bore of the cylinder 7 and is normally pressed ina left-handed direction by any suitable yielding means, in this instanceindicated merely as a compression spring 17, within the cyl inder,having one end in contact with the piston and the opposite `end held ina fixed position as by the screw plug 18.

The piston 8 is provided with a tailrod 19 carrying the insulatingmember' 20, which the spring 17 tends to press against the member 21carried by the leaf-spring 22, in such manner as to hold the said member21 against the member 23, which arrests further expansion of the spring17. The leafLspring 22 is carried by and in electrical communicationwith the iron` cylinder or electrode 24 which is attached, as by meansof the screw-thread shown, to the perforated member or disk 25 of achemically inert insulating material. The saidA disk 25 isfirmly'held inthe position shown in the drawing as `by means of the rod or electrode26 which is shouldered,

as indicated, and screwed into the lug lor boss 27 which projectstheinternal cavity 2 of iron cup or receptacle of the body casting andmay be held in place by a screw-thread, as shown, and is preferablyilled to about the level indicated in the drawing with an electrolyte,`which for example may be consideredas a dilute solution of causticpotash.` The members 21 and 23 are preferably of platinum or someotherconducting materialv chemically inert y and capable `of withstandinghigh temperaturev and not readily disintegrated by an electricspark,whi1e spring 22 is preferably of steel Vfrom a side or wall of themember 1,. The 28 closes lthe branch cupi 28 to Wire 35,

and tends normally to separate the point 21 from the point 23. Themember 4 is connected as by Wire 29 with one terminal of any suitablebattery 30, or other source of current, the opposite terminal of whichis connected as by Wire 3l with one terminal of a suitable inductance orspark coil 32, the opposite terminal of Which is connected as by Wire 33led to one side of a'suitable contacting device or switch or key 34, theopposite terminalv of which is connected with some portion of thestarting device, as indicated by Wire 35, or by a usual ground, or othersuitable-connection. The piston S may be provided with a small aperturetherethrough, indicated in dottedlines at 36, for a purpose as willhereinafter be explained, and the cylinder 7 is provided with an exhaustport 37 the function of which will hereinafter appear.

An operation of my invention is substantially as follows:V 4

If the shaft 12 beat rest and the other parts of the device in thepositions indicated inthe drawing, spring 17 will hold the contact 21-23tightly closed, and the shaft 12 may be started by depressing key 34 inthe following manner. If We consider the positive terminal of thebattery as connected with the Wire 29, and the battery of sufficientelectromotive force, the making of the' contact at 34 will allow currentto fiow from the battery through 29, member 4, contact 23-21, member 22,electrode 24, and thence through the electrolyte to electrode 26 andswitch 34, Wire 33', coil 32 and Wire 31 to the battery. The passage Yof the current through the electrolyte will i the 'spring 17 Willrapidly generate a very explosive mixture of oxygen and hydrogen whichwill accumulate in the cavity-2 until the volume thereof Will causesufiicient pressurel to be exerted upon thepiston 8 that the same willbe moved ina right-handed direction against the pressure of thespringi17,A whereupon spring 22 Willbreak the-contact at 21e-23 andcause a spark in the usualmanner, which will explode the mixture Withinthe cavity-2 and cause the niston 8 to be driven in a right handeddirection, revolving the pinion 11 and shaft 12 inZ a counter-clockwisedirec,- tion, through `the instrumentality of the clutch 13, which Willallow the motor or other l instrumentality connected `with the shaft 12to continue its rotation in this direcxtion, free of the startingmechanism. i When the piston` 8 passes the exhaust port 37, most of theburnt gases contained in the cavity2-and portion of the cylinder back ofthe piston will tend to restore the piston to the position shown in thedrawing, unless arrested by back lievedeither by leakage past the pistonor slow exhaust through the aperture 36, pro-2 be allowed to; escape,andpressure which will be re-l vided for this purpose. When this leakagehas allowed the spring to return the piston to the position shown in thedrawing, an other starting impulse may be given by simply againdepressing the key or switch and completing the circuit therethri'nigh.

From the foregoing it will be noted that I have produced a startingmeans of very simple construction composed of extremely feiv movableparts which may he cheaply made and operated at small expense., andparticularly applicable to small motors which may be started With amoderatesupply of explosive mixture, such as may readily be generated ina short interval of time and with a small expenditure of electricalenergy through the instrumentality of my invention.

I do not Wish in any Way to limit myself to any of the exactconstructions or details of operation given above to `illustrate anembodiment of my invention, for it will he ohvious that Wide departuremay he made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

W hat I claim is:

1.' Starting means comprehending electrolytic gas generating means andmeans operated responsive to pressure of the gas gen erated for ignitingthe gas generated to start an element in motion.

2. Starting means coniprehending an electrically operated gas generatorproducing an explosive mixture and means operated hy the pressurel ofthe gas generated for igniting said mixture and starting an element inmotion.

3. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated gas generatorproducingl an explosive mixture and means for i gni ting said mixture insaidgas generator and ntilizing the expansion of the ignited gases.

4; Starting means comlnehending an elec trically operated gas generatorproducing an explosive mixture of gases. means for con lining said gasesunder pressure, and means operated responsive to pressure of the gasproduced for igniting said confined gases to initiate a movement in amember to he started.`

5. Starting means comprehending an elec` trically operated gas generatorproducing an explosive mixture iof gases,.means for ronfining said gasesunder pressure, means operated responsiveto said production of gas forigniting said confined gases, and means for utilizing the powerdeveloped thereby to perform a starting function.

6. Starting means compreheiuling an electrically operated gas generaterproducing an explosive mixture of gases, means for confining said gasesunder pressure, means operated responsive to pressure of the gasproduced for igniting said confined gases` and means for utilizing thepower developed fl t) lit) rtherebytoperform astarting function coin-`preliending a movable element `affected by the en ansion of said igases.

7. tarting means comprehendingl ani` electrically operatedigasigeneratorproducingfan explosive mixture oifagafses, means for confini'ng saidgases under pressure, means operated by the pressure of the gas producedfor igniting said confined gases, and means for utilizing the powerdeveloped thereby to perform a starting function comprehending a movableelement affected by the expansion of said gases and power transmittingmeans connected with said element for affecting an element to be startedin motion.

8. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated gas generatorproducing an explosive mixture of gases under pressure, and means forigniting said gases under pressure and causing starting means to -becomeactive.

9. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated gas generatorproducing an explosive mixture of gases under pressure, and means forigniting said gases under pressure affected by motion caused by saidpressure and resulting in starting an element from rest.

10. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated gas generatorproducing an explosive mixture of gases under pressure, means forigniting said gases under pressure affected by motion caused by saidpressure, and means for utilizing the power incident to said ignition.

11. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated gas generatorproducing an explosive mixture of gases under pressure, means forignitng said gases under pressure affected by motion caused by saidpressure, and means for utilizing the power `due to said ignitioncomprehending a movable member operated by the expansion due to saidignition, and means for operatively connecting the same with a member tobe started in motion. y

12. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated gas generatorproducing an explosive mixture of gases under pressure, means forigniting said gases under pressure "affected by motion caused by saidpressure, and means for utilizing the power due to said ignitioncomprehending a movable member operated by the expansion due to saidignition, and means for operatively connecting the same with a member tobe started in motion combined with means for permitting the saidmovablemember to return to its operative position after complet- `ing itsstarting function.

13. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated gas generatorproducing an explosive mixture of gases under pressure, means forigniting said gases under pressure affected by motion caused by saidlpressureyand means forutilizing ithe power `due `to said ignitioncomprehending'a movstarted in motion combined 'witliimeans for returningthe `movable `member to its i original operative position when itsstarting function is completed.

14. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated explosive gasgenerator combined with means operated responsive to the operation ofthe gas generator for automatically igniting the gases generated therebyand producing motion of a member from rest.

15. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated explosive gasgenerator combined with means for automatically igniting the gasesgenerated thereby, and means for utilizing the expansion of said gasesdue to the ignition.

16. Starting means compreheiiding an electrically operated explosive gasgenerator combined with means operated responsive to the generation ofgas by the gas generator for automatically igniting the gases generatedthereby, and means for utilizing the expansion of said gases due to theignition comprehending a movable member and power transmitting means.

17. -Starting means comprehending an electrically operated explosive gasgenerator combined with moans for automatically igniting the gasesgenerated thereby, and means for utilizing the expansion of saidgasesdue to the ignition, comprehending a movable member and powertransmitting means combined with means affecting the restoration of themovable member to its original operative position upon completion of itsstarting function.

18. Starting means comprehending an electrically operated gas generatorhaving an explosion chamber in communication therewith, meanscommunicating with said chamber for igniting the mixture therein, meansresponsive to the pressure of .said mixture for operating said ignitingmeans, and means cooperating therewith to utilize the expansion due tothe ignition of gases in said chamber to perform a starting function.

19. Starting means compiehending an electrically operated gas generatorhaving an explosion chamber in communication therewith, meanscommunicating with said chamber for igniting the mixture therein, meansresponsive to the pressure of said mixture for operating said ignitingmeans, and means coperating therewith to utilize the expansion due tothe ignition of gases in said chamber to perform a starting `functioncomprehending a member to be started and a mechanical connectiontherewith.

l20. Starting means eomprehending :1n electrically operated gusgenerator having an explosion chamber' in communication therewith, meanscommunicating with seid 5 chamberl for igniting the mixture therein,meansv responsive to the pressure of said mixture for loperating seidigniting means,

:md means eoperating therewith 'ro utilize the expansion due to theignition of gases in seid chamber to. perform :t starting 'functionComprehending zt member to he started nml :t mechanical connectiontherewith for trans mitting motion in one direction only.

CHARLES HA'UNZ.

